The site of the Imperial Palace, Japan’s seat of power, Chiyoda is the epitome of Tokyo’s beauty and appeal. The Imperial Gardens invite travelers from all over the world with their impeccable landscape, and free entrance. The Yasukuni Shrine, another free attraction, gets crowded in the cherry blossom season, and the National Theatre of Japan performs traditional arts. There’s still room for shopping and fine dining here, and you can spend days exploring the wonders of the small Chiyoda.

Chūō is the shopping mecca for both travelers and residents. Ginza is synonymous with wealth, glamor and all things premium, with numerous department stores, and boutiques selling the finest of anything. The neighborhood is home to restaurants that serve the very best Japanese food. Some of the city’s great culture with the leading kabuki theater, and countless art galleries can be found here as well. And let’s not forget Asia’s largest fish market, Tuskiji.

Minato is where most of the foreign travelers go for a wild night out. The ward’s Roppongi districts boasts a number of nightclubs, entertainment complexes, baths and spas, as well as high-end hotels, some of the city’s best art museums, and some of its finest restaurants. ‘Cities-within-a-city’ Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown both offer stylish, sophisticated experiences, while the rest of the area goes about its debauchery undeterred.

Shibuya boasts the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing, a giant shopping center, with gargantuan video screens playing pop music, and the youngest of the Tokyo crowds looking for the hippest fashion accessories. Shibuya has it all: shops, bars, restaurants, clubs, karaoke boxes, cinemas and plenty more – all of it cheap, cheerful, gaudy and fun. Leave your pretensions in the hotel room and dive into the youthful heart of the city.

Shinjuku offers a bit of everything for everyone. From high-end fashion boutiques, to bargain outlet stores, the seat of the metropolitan government is an ideal neighborhood for the budget conscious travelers as well. Between its skyscrapers and neon-clad high rises you’ll find cozy little bars, and the most salacious red light district. Last, but not least, the world’s busiest train station is also here, which explains the crowds.

For travelers, Taitō is the ideal spot to experience Tokyo at its most authentic. A neighborhood where old temples harmonize with new high rises, Taitō has something for everyone. Young crowds hang around Bunkyō’s University of Tokyo, while shoppers stroll down Yanaka Ginza, a shopping street full of traditional, quirky little shops. Romantics and artists can be found in Ueno, Tokyo’s best-known cherry blossom viewing spot, while history buffs take in the temples of Asakusa.